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04.25

scrap map + tutorial

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With all this rufflyness I haven’t mentioned what I’m up to at SYTYC much, but I’m still in! We’re in round 5 now, upcycle. Voting starts today so GO VOTE!

Last week, my project was this scrap map:

US Map Wall Hanging

This project even rhymes, a scrap map! I used 50 different little scraps to make this map of America wall hanging. It’s bright and colorful and each state is packed with personality.
  
 It was really fun to choose a specific fabric print or solid for each different state. And I have a new found appreciation for each state’s curves and lines. This project is a great geography refresher! Each state has been delicately topstitched.
I always have a large supply of muslin scraps, so I found one just big enough for the map. Once the map was done I wrapped it around a scrap of plywood I had from another project and hung it up with a piece of lace that was hiding in the scrap pile. The lace reminds me of colonial outfits, so I thought it was the perfect fit. This would be a fun project for a kids room or a classroom.

 
……
 
Tutorial:

For this project, you’re going to need a lot of different scraps, 50 of them. So just go over and PULL your scrap draw out. You can just throw them all over the floor for this one. And don’t weed out fabrics if they are unique. I used a fleece for North Dakota (because I think I’d want one there!), a knit for Kansas and a silk in Illinois. It adds some neat dimension to use different fabrics.

Next, go over here and print off this map, in poster size. I copied the image to Paint(high tech, I know.) and then printed it. To print in poster, go to your printing preferences > Page setup. In the screen shot below you’ll see the Poster option highlighted.

You’ll have a bunch of sheets like this:

Tape it together, overlapping and trimming as needed. Then cut out California. California is a good state to start with because it comprises most of the west coast and gives you a base to build from.  Now find a piece of fabric that you think represents the state in some way. Here’s an example with North Dakota.

Cut out a piece of heat n bond, large enough for the state and iron it to the back of your fabric.

 

Let it cool and peel off the backing.

Pin the state to your backed fabric.

And cut it out.

Repeat 50 times.

Then iron to a piece of muslin in it’s spot. I made sure to cut out one state at a time so I didn’t get any mixed up. Keep going until you have all the states on there! Just keep going, working your way from the west coast to the east coast. Those northeastern states are little and tricky, but you can do it! When you’re finished, Colorado will be your new favorite state. Perfectly rectangular.

When they are all ironed on, topstitch around each state. This is the most time consuming part, but the most important. It will give each state the definition you want! Before topstitiching, you won’t like your map as much as you thought you would. But, when you topstitch, you’ll love it! Just remember that because this tedious. Backstitch where necessary to keep your stitches sturdy.

Next, I stretched it around a piece of plywood and glued the back. I just used a glue gun for this step. Then glue on a piece of lace on the back and you’re ready to hang it!

*Since you’ll be sewing through this, the best heat-n-bond to get is the purple one. I used red, since that is what I had on hand. But purple is more lightweight and won’t make your needle sticky.

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Reader Interactions

138 Comments

  6. Meredith

    so cool, i think i need one stat. but much bigger. yeah, we’ll see if it ever happens but i have every intention … :)

  7. Donna

    I have used a similar method to turn my children’s artwork into a fabric wall hanging. I traced the artwork directly onto the Wonder Under and then cut that rather than cut the artwork, though. I love this map idea and may have to do something like it. It would look beautiful in any room! What a great gift for a geography teacher too.

  17. Rachel

    I LOVE this! I have been thinking about attempting a license plate map, but this is even better.

  18. Cannwin

    Okay, now I can’t remember which blog I saw it on, but there was this idea where she took freezer paper and cut her pattern pieces out of that and then ironed it onto the fabric…. making it super easy to cut out each piece.

    That would be great for this project.

  19. SewHappyGeek

    Oh my gosh, that’s so fab! Little geek and I are smitten! As Yanks living in England, it’s particularly cool! Might have to make it for one of those pressies that take a bit of time and get made in secret… thanks for sharing!

  21. Janthony

    Kate. Are you KIDDING me! This is DEFINITELY my favorite project of yours. I don’t know what that says about me. But I am SO doing this one!

  23. Allison

    I adore this! It’s definitely going on my project list! Thanks so much for sharing this! :)

  25. Jill

    You did a beautiful job on this! I especially like the fabric you chose for Oregon :)

  29. Lorie

    I think this is one of my favorite projects I have EVER seen on a blog EVER!! Thank you for sharing the tutorial!

  31. Michell @ Girl In Air

    I LOVE it!! I have a thing for maps…I have the whole world painted in my entry and a map covered foot locker and map coasters AND I even wrapped all my gifts in maps….

    Thanks for sharing this…I’m pinning it!

    Have a great night!

  34. NaDell

    I think my husband would even like this! He loves maps! Ohhh, I just read the above comment and a world map would be awesome too!
    Thanks for sharing your great idea. I voted for you last week too.

  36. ilene

    I’m loving this map and I’m loving this whole ruffle series! Thanks for featuring my scarf from the flickr pool!

  37. Camilla

    Seriously AWESOME! What is the dimensions of the total project…just so I can get a feel for how big you did everything. I would love to do this in LARGE for my kids playroom. You know…3′ x 4′ or so! Great blog…newest follower

  43. Megan

    I’ve seen this image floating around Pinterest, and I’m so excited to see a tutorial for it. My son would LOVE this. He’s a little map-obsessed at the moment. :)

  45. Sarah

    So THIS is where that Pinterest picture game from! It’s fabulous! I am starting to save a couple scraps from projects now just for this!

  49. Chris

    This is such a clever design. I love the mix of fabrics…and that you were able to do it so inexpensively too!

  55. Lolly Jane

    You never cease to amaze us Kate! LOOOOVE this! Great tute :)
    We would ♥ for you to show this off at our link party!

    Lolly Jane
    lollyjaneboutique.blogspot.com

  58. Randi

    The “printing preference” options I think will vary depending on your printer. Mine doesn’t have a poster setting. :( It would be great if it did. Instead I use Publisher, which does have a poster/multi page printout option.

  59. Randi

    An alternative to those who don’t have a poster setting on their printer (or Publisher) is to, after pasting the picture into Paint, go to Paint’s Page Setup and change the Scaling to “Fit to: 2×3 pages” or 3×4 pages or however large you would like your map to be. (Page Setup is found in Windows 7’s paint near the print and print preview options).

  62. Rachel@oneprettything.com

    WOW! That is so fabulous looking. I can’t wait to do this!! I just came across your how-to via the kojodesigns pinterest board. I would love to link to this if you didn’t ming.

  65. Des

    Totally brilliant!!! I so love it! I want to put it in my bedroom, is that weird?? I love it!

  67. Kristy

    I LOVE, LOVE this!!! What fun, and so creative! Have to make one for our home school classroom!
    Thanks for sharing!

  68. Kellie

    WOW! This is amazing. I think this may be THE summer project for my kids and I this year! Thanks for sharing!!!

  70. Seattle Mama

    This is amazing. Thank you for the tutorial. I hope you don;t mind that I posted a link to it. I love your blog – I’m your newest follower!

  73. Smallgood

    Yikes. This looks so time consuming, but I’m falling hard in love for it. Love hurts sometimes, I suppose. And I really love the fabric you chose for my state (NC).

  74. Christina Hollis

    I’ve just seen this on Angela James’ blog – it’s incredible, and inspiring. I wish I could produce the equivalent map of my own country, England. Though I suspect my nimble fingered sister would have to have a LOT of input in that project.
    Thanks so much for sharing!

  78. lej619

    Thanks for the Tutorial !!
    think i might tape the map together then iron it on a piece of muslin. yes it would be backwards but you can do the placement on the other side(sorta like paper-pieceing) and it should come out fine!?yes?? that way i know where each state goes on the piece of muslin.
    thanks!!!

  79. StephanieCherrise

    This is such an incredible project! How talented! This must have taken quite a bit of time. What a great way to reuse old scrap fabric! =D

  80. Em & Rach

    Thank you for this tutorial! I stumbled across it and fell in love with the map. I decided to make it for myself, and had a great time doing so. I just posted it on my blog if you want to take a look! You’re inspirational!

    Wemake125.blogspot.com

  82. Priscilla

    Hi! Could you please give me the final dimensions of your map ASAP. I’ve printed it but it still feels too small. I like the size you made. Wonderful!

  84. Priscilla

    Hi Kate,
    Thank you so much for your quick response with the map dimensions. I’m so glad I found your blog. You sew such beautiful things. Very inspirational!

  86. Teri

    I love this idea! I made it and posted it to my blog with a link to the original source. Thanks for the fun idea!

  87. Jennifer McAfee

    Hi, Kate.

    When I saw your map, I fell in love. I unfortunately put aside needs to do this want, but it’s finished and I love it. I added “In God We Trust” in a zig zag stitch above the map, and my sash was made from more scraps that I’d used for the states. What a great idea, thanks. I’d send you a pic, but I can’t see how to do that. Thanks again.
    Jennifer

  90. ladyshark

    Beautiful map! I homeschool up in Canada. Must find a map and do one for my boys! Glad I found your blog – awesome!

  91. Terriaw

    This project is SO cool! I have been wanting to make something like this for awhile now, but couldn’t figure it out in my head, so I am very appreciative that you put this together and shared it with the rest of us. I am so excited to make this – thank you thank you!!

  93. jani

    Hi Kate, I love this map,and am going to make it for my niece’s baby shower. I just wanted to ask you,
    you didn’t use any seam allowance for the pieces, did you? You just ironed them on with the raw edges? and then sewed around them, right?
    just wanted to make sure.
    Thanks for this excellent idea!
    Jani

  94. jani

    So, I guess you haven’t had time to read my question, but I guess that means that the states just butt up against each other, and you stitch about 1/4″ inside the raw edge.
    It didn’t say in the directions, I just wasn’t sure if the raw edges would lay flat, or stick up or anything after you topstitch them.
    thanks,
    Jani

  96. kate

    Hi Jani!
    yes, put the states really close to each other. Their edges should match up. I used heat n’ bond on my scraps before sewing them to the background. The heat n bond sticks them on when you iron it. So the edges will lay flat. I sewed 1/4″ away from the edge.
    Have fun!
    Kate

  97. jani

    Hi Kate,
    Thanks so much for the reply! I am so excited to make my map for my niece. I’ve enlarged it to about 14 x22 and have all my scraps out! I’ll post a photo when it’s finished. Hope it turns out as great as yours!
    thanks again,
    Jani

  100. Heather

    Awesome! If you are also a scrapper type & have a Cricut, you can use the 50 States cartridge to cut out each state…. was thinking that’s what you did until I read it.

  102. Laura

    Read comment 117 and thought it would help with Mac users but it doesn’t. Any ideas on how to do this “poster print” on a Mac with just word or Publisher?

  103. Jenny

    I made 2 of these for friends with new babies for their nurseries. So in love with this project. I have been encouraged to make more & even sell them. While I know that the USA is not an original shape & applique techniques have been around for a while, but I wanted to check with you since I learned about this on your site.

  105. kate

    Jenny– My tutorials are for personal use only. Thank you for respecting that!

  110. Dani

    This is amazing! I was just talking about getting a map so that I could pin all the places I have shipped different orders, but this is so much better than a paper map. I’ll make it and wrap it around a cork board rather than plywood so the pins will stick.

    What an amazing project, thanks for sharing!

  113. goletagirlwendy

    Your Scrap Map is amazing. I have always loved the map that was made out of license plates, but now I can make one of my own out of scraps. Love it!

  117. Natalia

    Thanks for the idea! I may need to make a traveling bag with this pretty map on it! Then plan a road trip!!!

  118. Ruby Jean

    OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I just saw this over at Positively Splendid… This is BEYOND adorable!!! I am on my way out the door SERIOUSLY to get some Muslin I am Making this Pretty thing.. :) So it is… “SEE Kate Sew and SEE Angelina RUN!!! ” :) to the store that is..

  121. luckycharm

    Exactly what I’ve been looking for! This is great. ill b making one for a Barn Quilt display at our county fair. Thanks for the tut!

  122. Summer :)

    I’m trying to print out the pdf as I write but I have a Mac & have no idea how to go about getting it to print poster size I have tried a lot. Any ideas!?!

  123. Summer :)

    I’m trying to print out the pdf as I write but I have a Mac & have no idea how to go about getting it to print poster size I have tried a lot. Any ideas!?!

  125. marriedtotri.com

    Hi, great project, thanks for the inspiration. One important note though…the author suggests to use purple heat and bond instead of red because it will be easier to topstitch. Except that purple is not double sided and you won’t be able to iron it onto the backing. So, USE THE RED!

  126. rmonile

    Hi Kate! Thanks for the inspiration. you are the first blog I started following and this map is the first project I did. Love the tutorial! Your map is going to raise money for our school. I had 48 1st grade students cut a state out and I did the rest. I hoping to see some of the parents of these students bid on this item. it came out so beautiful! Thank you again

  127. mommyiscoocoo

    You did an AMAZING job! What can I say that hasn’t been said. I LOVE IT!!! found you on pinterest. I’m going to repin it and try it later!!! Again, great job. I’m following now.

  129. Maggi

    WOW! LOVE it!! what is the website for the map and what size does this end up being? thanks so much!

  130. Maggi

    LOVE this! Just a couple questions! what is the website for the map and what is the size of the finished piece! thanks so much!

  135. Anonymous

    Wonderful! Now setting off to do try this on world scale, or one for each of the continents… Long-term project anyone? :)

  137. Carol Christian

    I can’t wait to make this and add tiny buttons for places I have lived or visited. May take the pattern to copy shop and let print 2 poster size sheets.

  138. Carol Christian

    I can’t wait to make this and add tiny buttons for places I have lived or visited. May take the pattern to copy shop and let print 2 poster size sheets.